The Effects Of Slavery On American Culture

During early 19th century, the entrenchment of Southern slavery, there was discussion between planters who benefitted from it and abolitionists who fought against it. Most Americans, especially those in Southern states, understood that slavery system could not help parting from their economic and social system. Southern slavery system brought big economical benefits. However, it negatively influenced American society as a whole rather that positively.

Slavery is a system in which human beings can be owned by other people and are treated effectively like property in the eyes of the law. Slavery was introduced to the colonies in 1619, at Jamestown, Virginia, where unskilled workers were needed to farm tobacco (“Slavery(Issue)”) . The South needed slaves more due them having a more agricultural lifestyle. However, the North, which was based upon manufacturing and trading and basically no slaves by the time of the Constitution. During that time, indentured servants were more popular due to less expense and danger than the slaves. However, after the invention of Eli Whitney’s cotton gin, which established cotton as a lucrative

Slavery was a harsh system that consisted of forcing other human beings to work in harsh conditions; as well as restrict their freedom to the point where they had none. Slavery was first introduced into Colonial America in 1619, and lasted for 245 years. During those 245 years, slavery harshly affected those who were involved in its system. The institution of slavery has profoundly influenced and shaped multiple aspects of Colonial America and the United States. Slavery influenced the 13 Colonies and the U.S. by the growth in sales for Cotton, and farming. Slavery shaped Colonial America and the United States culturally, by proving to the slaves that white people were far more superior than African Americans, religion and Cult of Domesticity. Lastly slavery shaped Colonial America and the United States politically by causing rebellions, and abolitionism.

Between 1800 and 1865, slaves lived in the Southern States and worked in the tobacco, wheat, rice, corn and cotton plantations. Essentially, slavery was an economic institution with far-reaching benefits to slaveholders, since the value of slave labor was considerably more than the cost of their maintenance. Demands for democratization, respect for human dignity and American Civil War presented a major turning point in the institution of slavery as farmers turned to lesser labor-intensive production methods such as the use of Eli Whitney 's Cotton Gin. This paper analyzes different ways in which institution of Slavery affected the development of American South between 1800 & 1865, and the lives of people living in the region. In doing so the paper considers economic, political, social and cultural implications of the institution.

During the early 19th century, especially before the American Revolution and after the War of 1812, American society has changed greatly. The North and the South followed different paths, gradually developing into two distinct and very different regions. And in the 1800s, the disparities between the two regions because of the difference in economic, social and political structure, continued to widen leading up to the Civil War that raged across the nation from 1861 to 1865 which concluded the decades of diverse ideas and culture between the two regions. The South’s economic were known vastly for its agriculture and farming. Its fertile soil and warm climate were ideal for large-scale farms and crops like tobacco and cotton.

The Unites States during the 1850s was a harsh time for African Americans, not only were they treated extremely harsh; but many of them were slaves as well. Slavery was the topic of every discussion during this time period and the United States was literally split on the issue of slavery. A lot of the Southern States wanted to continue slavery because it was a way of life. Many of the southerners depend on slavery to help grow and harvest crops that were on acres and acres of land. Northerns, on the other hand were against slavery. Slavery to them were not only inhumane, but Northerns rarely depended on slaves. Abolitionists were present throughout the United States, they created escape routes and safe houses for slaves who wanted to escape. The Underground Railroad was a prime example of this, not only was this risky for the slaves themselves but it was also risky for the people who helped them along the way. With the Fugitive Slave Act in full affect, Abolitionist were indeed breaking the ‘law’; but for equality for everyone no matter the skin color was a risk many were willing to take and die for.

There has always been hostility between different groups of people, in the 17th-19th centuries this was no different. This was the time of slavery in the New World. During this time people from Africa were enslaved and brought to the colonies of North America. They were then forced to work under harsh conditions. Although this is a painful memory in our country 's past, without it we wouldn 't be the country we are today.

Every since the start of slavery, in 1619 and all the way up until now 2016, people have been socially, religiously, and sexually profiled by their race. It could be something just as simple as where they come from, how they talk, their beliefs, or the color of their skin. We all are very aware of the history of slavery and how things went on in that time. I was far more horrific and blood-curdling back then. Unlike today protesting, rallying, and fight back was not an option back then, of course some stood up for what they believed in those were the boldest. Those who dared to challenge the authorities were the bravest, those who sat back at waited for a change were the patient.

It is undeniable that slavery has affected the American culture, our ancestors who either choose to be in America or were transported here less than 400 years ago. Over an estimated 300,000 slaves were transported to freshly colonized home, laden with diseases and new ordeals (Voyage, 2013). They were forced to work long and hard while their whip-torn bodies lay as an omen to what our freedom is built upon. An omen to how their very own freedom and basic rights are taken all for the advancement of a society that they were marginalized and systematically excluded from. This is the heritage that all Americans, especially African Americans, are so familiar with today. Though African Americans are no longer in the fields being beaten, but the underlying affects of this treatment of their race is irrefutable. Ever since slavery began, African Americans have had to

Depopulation was another negative impact that slavery had on Arica. This affected the African culture because the people who were stolen may have fulfilled many societal roles in the community. Africa lost many young strong people who could have been potential traders, philosophers, and skilled laborers. This led to an economic and cultural depletion to the regions. This also slowed the growth of existing populations and halted the development of nations. The younger, stronger people were the highly chosen ones to be taken for enslavement. The opportunities they may have had to raise children of their own within their own culture damaged cultural perpetuation. The trauma of losing young family members, people removed from the social frameworks

The Atlantic slave trade dismantled Africans family structure, because it was legal to sell husband, wives, and children separately. Due to the U .S law not recognizing them as humans or families. Also, when children were taken from their parents, they loss their primary connection with their African culture. This left them with no reliable opportunity to obtain their beliefs, and values of their origin. Consequently, as they grew older they were unable to provide their children with enough knowledge of their culture, because they did not receive nor experienced it themselves. According to activist Assata Shakur “Black Americans have no genealogical blueprint from which to draw a family history or bloodline, no accurate records kept, and no way to effectively trace our roots without hitting a dead-end of red tape or a white family tree.

In the seventeenth century, European colonists utilized the vast land in North America for large-scale farming. The successful planting of several crops led to a massive demand for these products. The cultivation of these plants was labor intensive, and the declining availability of white indentured servants made white planters turn towards slave labor. In the book The Half Has Never Been Told, author Edward Baptist described the productivity of slave labor on the plantations and its contribution to the United States’ economy. In addition, he remarked the devastating effects of slavery on African-American communities. Slaves faced degradation, brutality, sexual exploitation, and inadequate living conditions. Some colonists viewed slavery was immoral and inhumane and supported the abolition of this practice. However, this issue continued to exist in the early American republic because of slavery’s immense role in driving the national economy and the protection of slavery by the Constitution and Southern politicians.

Slavery had also been present in New York from the earliest days of Dutch settlement. As their role expanded so did slavery in the city, 30 percent of its laborers were slaves. Most came from different cultures, spoke different languages, and practiced many regions. Slavery allowed different individuals who would never otherwise have encountered, their bond was not kinship, language, or even race, but the impressment of slavery. They eventually came together an created a cohesive culture and community that took many years, and it processed at different rates of speed in different regions.

The controversies surrounding slavery have been established in many societies worldwide for centuries. In past generations, although slavery did exists and was tolerated, it was certainly very questionable,” ethically“. Today, the morality of such an act would not only be unimaginable, but would also be morally wrong. As things change over the course of history we seek to not only explain why things happen, but as well to understand why they do. For this reason, we will look further into how slavery has evolved throughout History in American society, as well as the impacts that it has had.

Throughout the 1800 century, there has been plenty of discussion concerning slaves and their masters, slaves working on plantation fields and house slaves serving only their masters. However, there must be an inside culture within the slaves themselves. Over a 200 year period is long enough for generations of people to establish culture regardless of who is in charge of them. We can almost see a parallel way of thought when discussing slaves and slave ownership and comparing that to average citizens and the government. A slave answers to the slave owner just like citizens in a society answer to the local government. Of course the two examples are far from each other. Freedom being the key element and being treated as human should be given to all persons. However the slave and slave ownership is very offensive to most if it not all people these days. This discussion is merely based on culture. Whatever society you are in, whether you are free or controlled, a culture will be made. This is just a fact of human nature.